How many reviewers properly drive cars
Discussion
Evening All,
I drive a 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.0i. Owned it since August 2015 and have not had a moments trouble with it so far. I recall when buying the car that the reviews on it were decidedly mixed. The european reviews of my particular model slammed it for having only 150bhp or so and for its looks. The looks part I get as its always subjective, I quite like the car looks wise, but on the engine side of it, this point I don't get. I think the car is an excellent machine to go. In fact, over 3000 revs, I think it goes like stink, especially for a N/A engine. I say this having driven various itinerations of the VW 1.8T engine (for example), PSA 1.6T engines and various other turbo'd engines from Ford, Toyota etc.
My question is, has anyone else driven this car/engine and whats the opinion on it?? I know the engine is an EJ and has been around in years in various forms so would like to know what others think of it having lived with it for a while.
Many thanks
I drive a 2013 Subaru Legacy 2.0i. Owned it since August 2015 and have not had a moments trouble with it so far. I recall when buying the car that the reviews on it were decidedly mixed. The european reviews of my particular model slammed it for having only 150bhp or so and for its looks. The looks part I get as its always subjective, I quite like the car looks wise, but on the engine side of it, this point I don't get. I think the car is an excellent machine to go. In fact, over 3000 revs, I think it goes like stink, especially for a N/A engine. I say this having driven various itinerations of the VW 1.8T engine (for example), PSA 1.6T engines and various other turbo'd engines from Ford, Toyota etc.
My question is, has anyone else driven this car/engine and whats the opinion on it?? I know the engine is an EJ and has been around in years in various forms so would like to know what others think of it having lived with it for a while.
Many thanks
I suspect your Legacy will be still running when the other cars you mention are distant memories. There is a good reason why there is a Subaru dealer in pretty much every medium sized village here in the Alps - they're super reliable workhorses. You get the impression that Subaru spend their R&D on mechanical quality not soft-touch plastics. When it's 25 below you don't want your car to break-down.
For me the looks aren't bad, it's just that the model before (and the Outback of the same time) were some of the best-looking estate cars ever. There are lots around here and still make me smile.
Your model was about the time when Subaru sales really started to take off in the US, by far their biggest market. They dwarf VW in the US these days and it's really profitable for them, hence they've focused on providing what that market wants. Some of the design elements make sense in this context. My experience has always been that Subarus get much closer to fuel economy numbers than other manufacturers. I suspect this is because they're less-designed to meet European lab results.
For me the biggest 'problem' with modern Subarus is the CVT box and the lack of the 3.6 litre engine in Europe. The gearbox isn't terrible but (a) I used to love Subaru manuals (b) it isn't a match to the automatics on many of the European cars. In the US the cars it competes with often have CVTs.
For me the looks aren't bad, it's just that the model before (and the Outback of the same time) were some of the best-looking estate cars ever. There are lots around here and still make me smile.
Your model was about the time when Subaru sales really started to take off in the US, by far their biggest market. They dwarf VW in the US these days and it's really profitable for them, hence they've focused on providing what that market wants. Some of the design elements make sense in this context. My experience has always been that Subarus get much closer to fuel economy numbers than other manufacturers. I suspect this is because they're less-designed to meet European lab results.
For me the biggest 'problem' with modern Subarus is the CVT box and the lack of the 3.6 litre engine in Europe. The gearbox isn't terrible but (a) I used to love Subaru manuals (b) it isn't a match to the automatics on many of the European cars. In the US the cars it competes with often have CVTs.
chandrew said:
I suspect your Legacy will be still running when the other cars you mention are distant memories. There is a good reason why there is a Subaru dealer in pretty much every medium sized village here in the Alps - they're super reliable workhorses. You get the impression that Subaru spend their R&D on mechanical quality not soft-touch plastics. When it's 25 below you don't want your car to break-down.
For me the looks aren't bad, it's just that the model before (and the Outback of the same time) were some of the best-looking estate cars ever. There are lots around here and still make me smile.
Your model was about the time when Subaru sales really started to take off in the US, by far their biggest market. They dwarf VW in the US these days and it's really profitable for them, hence they've focused on providing what that market wants. Some of the design elements make sense in this context. My experience has always been that Subarus get much closer to fuel economy numbers than other manufacturers. I suspect this is because they're less-designed to meet European lab results.
For me the biggest 'problem' with modern Subarus is the CVT box and the lack of the 3.6 litre engine in Europe. The gearbox isn't terrible but (a) I used to love Subaru manuals (b) it isn't a match to the automatics on many of the European cars. In the US the cars it competes with often have CVTs.
Thanks for your response. I have a strong suspicion that you and I are living in or around the same area (I am halfway between Chur and Zurich). Funny you should mention the subaru garages in every small town, I noticed this a couple of years back on a bike ride from Ziegelbrucke over the Tuggenburg and down to Sargans. I could not believe that every little hamlet had a subaru garage!! But as you say theres a good reason for this and around where I live the Legacy (in all its itinerations) remains very very popular. I agree that the older model is one of the nicest estate cars. It was probably my first choice at the time we were looking for the car but I could not find a decent low miler and the garage up the road had the car I bought with only 17k on the clock. For me the looks aren't bad, it's just that the model before (and the Outback of the same time) were some of the best-looking estate cars ever. There are lots around here and still make me smile.
Your model was about the time when Subaru sales really started to take off in the US, by far their biggest market. They dwarf VW in the US these days and it's really profitable for them, hence they've focused on providing what that market wants. Some of the design elements make sense in this context. My experience has always been that Subarus get much closer to fuel economy numbers than other manufacturers. I suspect this is because they're less-designed to meet European lab results.
For me the biggest 'problem' with modern Subarus is the CVT box and the lack of the 3.6 litre engine in Europe. The gearbox isn't terrible but (a) I used to love Subaru manuals (b) it isn't a match to the automatics on many of the European cars. In the US the cars it competes with often have CVTs.
Yes, not too far away. At the moment we're on the Zurich / Thurgau border but am just off to the Engadin which is of course prime Subaru territory.
You will be aware how well Subarus keep their value here. We're about to get rid of our Forester after almost 14 years of faithful service. I thought hard about getting a new Outback but decided that I wanted something with a bit more 'poke' (hence my comment on the 3.6). I doubt the new car will be anywhere near as reliable as a Subaru.
Enjoy the Legacy.
You will be aware how well Subarus keep their value here. We're about to get rid of our Forester after almost 14 years of faithful service. I thought hard about getting a new Outback but decided that I wanted something with a bit more 'poke' (hence my comment on the 3.6). I doubt the new car will be anywhere near as reliable as a Subaru.
Enjoy the Legacy.
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